Please pray for Christians in Vietnam – World Watch List #21

Please pray for the Persecuted Church in Vietnam – World Watch List #21 (Open Doors USA)

VIETNAM (Wikipedia)

Population: 89.7 million (9.7 million Christians)
Main Religion: Buddhism
Government: Communist state
Source of Persecution: Communist oppression/dictatorial paranoia

Christians are perceived as Western agents and the state, with the help of tribal leaders, watches churches closely. The government requires permits for larger gatherings and issues them last minute – if at all – to deter people from attending. Converts from Buddhism come under pressure from family and community, and authorities in tribal areas often hire gangsters to harass pastors and new believers. The government has begun placing more restrictions on Christians in the wake of the Arab Spring.

PLEASE PRAY: More than a dozen believers were imprisoned in 2012.

Pray for strength and perseverance for Christians in prison.
Pray for Christians from ethnic minority groups, like the Hmong, who face great pressure to return to traditional beliefs.
Pray for safety for those distributing Open Doors’ Illustrated Children’s Bible. Importing Christian materials is prohibited.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS

Vietnam is one of the remaining countries in the world following a Communist ideology. The authorities still perceive Christianity as a foreign influence and Christians from a tribal background like the Hmong face pressure to return to traditional faith, especially in rural areas. Gatherings are suspected as meetings to plot against the government and are closely monitored.

Obtaining recognition for churches or permission to renovate a church building is a long process. In 2012, at least seven churches, all Catholic, were confiscated. Training of leaders has to be done secretly and integrating converts has to be done very cautiously. Importing Christian materials is prohibited. Christians face violence and are sent to prison, not officially because of their faith, but because of ‘anti-government’ propaganda. It is unlikely that the situation will change substantially in the coming years.

ANECDOTAL ACCOUNT – “Vietnamese Authorities Hire Gangsters to Harass Christians” (Open Doors)

“Kneel! Kneel!” shouted a village thug. Unfazed by the threats, Pastor Vinh* stood his ground. In Vinh’s culture, kneeling is seen as an admission of guilt. Although authorities prohibited planting of new churches, Vinh would not allow their threats to stop him from spreading the gospel message.

“He was one of the most promising students in the class,” explained by Vinh’s spiritual mentor. “He was very passionate to share God’s word and had a deep love for Jesus.”

The leader of the gang began battering Vinh’s knee with a lead pipe in an attempt to force the pastor to his knees. The tall and well-built, 24-year-old Bible school student endured the series of blows and still refused to kneel. Continue reading “Please pray for Christians in Vietnam – World Watch List #21” →

Please pray for Christians in Qatar – World Watch List #20

Persecuted Church in QATAR (Wikipedia) – World Watch List #20 (Open Doors UK)

Population: 1.9 million (90,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Republic
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism/Dictatorial paranoia

The state religion is conservative Islam and nearly all Qatari citizens are Sunni or Shia Muslims. Christian worship is only allowed in designated religious complexes, of which there are only two at the moment, which makes them easier to control and monitor. Many expat labourers are denied access to these complexes as they live too far away or are prevented from attending by employers. A Muslim who converts is considered an apostate and may face the death penalty. Foreign workers who evangelise non-Muslims are frequently deported.

PLEASE PRAY:

Thank God that a new Christian complex is to be completed this year and other places of worship are being built
For printed and digital Bible resources in Qatari and Asian languages to become available
That foreign Christians will have opportunities to share the love of Jesus

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS

Christianity entered Qatar in the early centuries AD, before being driven out. Over the past 100 years, expats (including Christians) have arrived. Public worship of religions other than Islam was prohibited until recently. There are some Christian places of worship. Most Qataris are unhappy with this, yet no explicit opposition has been displayed.

A typical Friday morning mass at the Catholic Church in Qatar — A typical Friday morning mass
at Catholic Church in Qatar

There is, however, a flip side – as Christian worship will only be allowed in a designated religious complex, there is a risk of ghettoisation. The concentration of Christian activities in one spot provides opportunity to control and monitor Christians.

There are more than 100 informal fellowships gathering in homes and generally tolerated by authorities. The Qatari Constitution declares that ‘freedom to practice religious rites shall be guaranteed’ yet in reality, expat Christians are restricted. The government prohibits proselytizing of non-Muslims and foreign workers who evangelize are frequently deported. Fear is a significant factor and a Muslim who converts is considered an apostate and may face the death penalty.
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What Life Is Really Like For Christians In Qatar

This tiny country along the Arabian Peninsula is home to the Al Jazeera news agency, Continue reading “Please pray for Christians in Qatar – World Watch List #20” →

Please pray for Christians in Turkmenistan – World Watch List #19

PERSECUTED CHURCH in TURKMENISTAN – World Watch List #19 (Open Doors)

Turkmenistan "Caucasus and Central Asia" — Turkmenistan
“Caucasus and Central Asia”

Population: 5.2 million (95,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: One-party state
Source of Persecution: Dictatorial paranoia/Organised corruption

The state exerts strict control in order to avoid the emergence of any independent economic, social or cultural groups – which includes churches. All unregistered religious activity is illegal and the government uses the ‘Council on Religious Affairs’, police and the secret services to keep the church under surveillance. The frequency of raids, even on registered churches, has increased and obtaining registration is nearly impossible. Formal religious education is almost totally banned, as are all religious publications.

PLEASE PRAY:

For Muslim-background believers who face more problems than other Christians, including physical attacks
That government officials will be willing to register churches
Give thanks that Pastor Ilmurad was released from prison in 2012; he must now report to the police each week.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS

Delegates attend a session of Turkmenistan's Halk Maslakhaty (People's Assembly) to decide who will succeed late President Saparmurat Niyazov in Ashgabat December 26, 2006. — Delegates attend a session of Turkmenistan’s Halk Maslakhaty (People’s Assembly) to decide who will succeed late President Saparmurat Niyazov in Ashgabat December 26, 2006.

Turkmenistan is one of the most corrupt countries in the world. It is very rich, mainly due to large gas fields, but the riches only benefit a small minority. Muslim-background believers face pressure from both their families and the community. All Christians are treated with mistrust yet Muslim-background believers face significantly more problems in this regard, including being physically harmed.

All unregistered religious activity is strictly illegal and registering a church is nearly impossible. The Russian Orthodox Church faces less problems in this regard. Formal religious education is almost totally banned and all religious publications are forbidden. Former President Niyazov’s book ‘Ruhnama’, which links Turkmen identity with Islam, continues to have an influence and is reportedly still used in school and university curricula. Arbitrary treatment, raids, fines and court charges will go on as long as the ruling elite perceives every group it cannot control as a threat to their absolute power.

ANECDOTAL REPORT – Begjan Shirmedov

A group of about six officials – two of them in police uniforms – raided Begjan Shirmedov’s home in Dashoguz in the North of Turkmenistan on Sunday 23 September. They arrived during a house meeting of his Baptist congregation, Path of Faith Church, attended by about 15 church members.

The officials told them that religious activity without state registration is illegal. The believers replied that they have been attempting to obtain registration in vain since 2004.

Police searched every room in the house and confiscated all Christian literature and CDs. When they asked where the literature had come from, family members insisted they had collected the books over many years as they have been Christians since the mid-1990s.

About 15 church members, women and children included, were taken away to be questioned. According to a Forum 18 report “Begjan Shirmedov was dragged out of the house by his collar”. Begjan is 77 years old, an elderly man who according to the Turkmen tradition should be treated with more respect. “They treated an elderly man like a tramp in front of his wife, his children, church members and neighbours without fear of having to answer for their actions.”

Meanwhile the other church members were fingerprinted and questioned about their religious activity. Later that day they were released.

Please pray for Christians in Laos – World Watch List # 18

Christian Persecution in LAOS – World Watch List # 18 (Open Doors)

LAOS (Wikipedia)
Government: Communist state
Main Religion: Buddhism
Population: 6.6 million (170,000 Christians)

Laos, officially the Lao People’s Democratic Republic, is a landlocked country in Southeast Asia, bordered by Burma and China to the northwest, Vietnam to the east, Cambodia to the south, and Thailand to the west.

Open Doors: Laos is unique as one of the few remaining Marxist-Leninist countries that also follows Theravada Buddhism. Being Lao is synonymous with being Buddhist; Christians who do not participate in traditional festivities and ceremonies face Buddhist aggression.

Evangelism is effectively prohibited on the grounds it would create social division. Families see Christianity as breaking family unity.

The majority of Christians are from a tribal background, and face severe persecution – mostly instigated by animists and spiritists who lose their trade due to conversions.

Please Pray:

+ That Christians will respond to monitoring by village officials with wisdom and sensitivity
+ For believers from the Katin or Hmong tribes, who are especially vulnerable. Some have been killed in army clashes
+ Give thanks for reports that orders to expel 10 Christian families from their village were retracted.

Persecution Dynamics

The state and the ruling Communist party put heavy pressure on the small Christian community in Laos. On paper, the government protects the rights of Christians but this is not the case in practice. Three Christian denominations are registered yet Christians remain the number one enemy of the state.

Persecution is mostly instigated by animists and spiritists who lose their trade due to conversions to Christianity. Therefore, there are high levels of persecution in tribal areas and villages.

The government promotes Lao culture which includes teaching Buddhist practices. If Christians do not participate in traditional festivities and ceremonies, they face Buddhist aggression.

In 2012 at least three churches closed under Decree 92, the principal legislation defining religious practices and favouring Buddhism.

There were, however, encouraging reports of an official stopping the expulsion of 10 Christian families. No major changes are expected as the government continues to favour Buddhism, therefore encouraging local religious and political leaders to pressurise the Christian minority.

ANECDOTAL REPORT:

Former Buddhists Kapono* and his family fled their house on Jan. 9, 2013 due to persecution they were facing at the hands of relatives and villagers. The believers were barely two weeks in their faith in Christ when they left their village in Southern Laos.

“When the family returned home (from a church in another village), their cousins and neighbors persecuted them,” according to a local source. “Last Jan. 6, they took Kapono’s cow…and then pushed him and his family out of the village. The believers lost their land, which was about four acres.

Kapono and his family are now staying at the house of a Christian friend in a nearby village.

* Kapono – not his real name.

Please pray for Libyan Christians: Libya #17 World Watch List

Persecuted Church in LIBYA – World Watch List #17 (Open Doors UK)

LIBYA (Wikipedia) –
Population: 6.5 million (35,000 Christians)
Main Religion: Islam
Government: Transitional government
Source of Persecution: Islamic extremism

During Gaddafi’s reign, the main source of persecution was the government and its secret services. Today opposition comes from the family, community and fanatical armed groups. But it is still forbidden to import Arabic Scriptures or to evangelise. There is no central government and the rule of law is absent, so Islamist extremist movements like the Salafists are able to perpetrate violence upon believers. Because of the civil unrest, 75 per cent of expat Christians have left the country.

PLEASE PRAY:

For strength for secret Christians; they are forbidden from meeting together
For a stable government that rules wisely and with justice
Give thanks that Christian programmes on TV, radio and the internet are generating growing interest in the Christian faith.

PERSECUTION DYNAMICS

Under Gaddafi’s rule, conditions for Christians were extremely harsh and Libya did not even have a real constitution. The feared and omnipresent secret police made sure restrictions on church activities and distribution of literature were enforced and evangelism criminalised. Muslim background believers were always at risk from their families and most Libyan Christians were afraid to meet as any kind of religious gathering was forbidden. Expats were allowed churches but Libyans were not allowed to attend.

The Libyan revolution has not brought Christians protection and freedom

The revolutions in Egypt and Tunisia gave Libyans the courage to fight Gaddafi, but despite this leading to Gaddafi’s death, it is feared that the future will be worse. Because of the unrest, an estimated 75 per cent of expat Christians have left the country. The National Transitional Council, who took over after Gaddafi, have repeatedly announced their intent to implement a ‘democracy according to Sharia’ in Libya, in which all citizens are already considered Sunni Muslim by law.

The main sources of persecution today are family, community, fanatical armed groups and, to a lesser extent, the government. To import Arabic Scriptures remains strictly forbidden and proselytising and missionary activity is officially prohibited. Many Libyan Christians are fleeing their homeland. It is unlikely that the situation will change, even with a new constitution.

ANECDOTAL REPORT / REQUEST FOR PRAYER:

Sherif is Egyptian, running a bookshop in Benghazi, in the East of Libya. He was arrested on February 10th and has been detained since then. During his detainment he has been physically abused, while there is no official charge against him, nor has he appeared before court.

Recently, some Egyptians and three non-Arab workers have also been arrested. Continue reading “Please pray for Libyan Christians: Libya #17 World Watch List” →